Vegetables and fruits, like people, have natural friends they prefer to be with  and some they prefer to keep away from. Other plants lure harmful insects away from sensitive plants, the way dill attracts hornworms away from tomatoes. And helpers like garlic will drive Japanese beetles right out of the neighborhood. Getting to know the good and bad companions can double the bounty of your garden.

This classic has now taught generations of gardeners how to use the natural benefits of plants to protect and support each other. Here is a reader’s complete reference to which plants nourish the soil, which keep away bugs and pests, and which plants just don’t get along. Here is a complete guide to using companion planting to grow a better garden. 555,000 copies in print.